Everyone loves looking at trail cam pics. In fact, the anticipation of scrolling through images is similar to that felt by young kids as they approach the living room on Christmas morning to see what presents Santa left under the tree.

Perhaps you received a gift card to an outdoor retailer this Christmas. Of course, the nice thing about gift cards is they are always the right size and color. If you find yourself with a bit of extra cash this holiday season, check out our selection of top trail cams below. Who knows — maybe during fall 2019 you’ll capture a pic of a buck that puts Dasher and Dancer to shame.

Bushnell Impulse

Cellular-enabled scouting cams are all the rage these days, and it’s pretty tough to beat the Impulse ($300) from Bushnell (800-423-3537; www.bushnell.com), which is offered with both AT&T and Verizon data plan options. In addition to the capability to send images right to a smartphone or other device, the Impulse boasts 1-second image recovery, .2-second trigger speed, 100-foot No Glow Blackout Flash, 1080P HD video with audio and too many other awesome features to list.

Cuddeback CuddeLink

CuddeLink ($120 - $270) is a proprietary wireless mesh network that allows cameras to communicate with one another. What this means is that Cuddeback (920-347-3810; www.cuddeback.com) has come up with a way for up to 15 cameras to send images back to one Home camera. Each camera can communicate with the next, even in dense cover, to create a linked system that allows users to monitor an entire property without having to set foot in it except for the initial setup. Bowhunters who are wary of pressuring deer through human presence at any time of the year should check this out. It’s a brilliant idea.

Stealth Cam GXVRW

Anyone looking for a 22-megapixel camera that can wirelessly transmit images to their phone could do a lot worse than checking out the new Verizon-compatible GXVRW ($300) from Stealth Cam (877-269-8490; www.stealthcam.com). They also offer the GXATW, which works with AT&T plans. Both cameras are built with sub-.5-second trigger speed, a 100-foot flash range, and are capable of recording 5- to 180-second video clips.

Wildgame Innovations Rival 18 Lightsout

Tucked into Wildgame Innovation’s (800-847-8269; www.wildgameinnovations.com) extensive lineup of trail cameras is one of the best deals out there for someone looking to capture the comings and goings of local bucks — the Rival 18 Lightsout ($140). This 18-megapixel camera can capture hi-res still images as well as 720p HD video. It also features an 85-foot illumination range via its 42 invisible black infrared LEDs. To ensure images are crisp and clear no matter the time of day (or night) they’re snapped, the Rival 18 utilizes Tru-Dual Cams technology, which enhances the overall image quality.